I thought this was a great, atmospheric and chilling thriller. It felt very claustrophobic in places, and I loved the change of point of view half way through.

I thought this might be a bit samey with some other books I'd read but it was worlds apart! The premise was exactly what was delivered and it had plenty of twists and turns throughout. It had a good pace and kept up the creepy atmosphere. It's so well written and relatable because it is literally everyone's worst fear come to life. The house itself also added to the effect and gave off its own sinister vibes which just elevated the whole thing. It also wasn't full of characters making stupid or unrealistic choices just to drag it all out! Definitely one to read

This was everything you need for a thriller and crime story. It is not as black and white as you first think and like most typical thrillers, is full of twists. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

🤫👨‍👩‍👧 The People Before - Charlotte Northedge 👨‍👩‍👧🤫

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

Wow! I came into this expecting a generic unmemorable thriller but I seriously underestimated how attached I would become to this.

Although this story shares many similar tropes as other thrillers, the depth of the protagonist and the detailed imagery really help this stand out from the rest.

As the story progressed, I genuinely felt the unease that the family were experiencing. Her plight as a mother, isolated and with little support around was so relatable and had me hooked till the end!

Very enjoyable little read.

Charlotte Northedge has written a gripping and compelling psychological thriller that I absolutely loved.
After a challenging year, Jess, her husband and two young children move from London to the Maple House, an arts and crafts house in the Suffolk countryside , with plans to renovate and start their new life. As soon as they arrive Jess feels a sense of unease, as if she's being watched and soon realises that the move was a huge mistake. The locals are unfriendly and so Jess welcomes a friendship with a local art gallery owner.
The People Before is a perfect autumnal, spooky read, a thriller that achieves the right balance of plot and characterisation alongside a sense of tension and unease. Northedge brings the house and characters to life and I really felt that I was there in Suffolk with Jess. When the novel started I wasn't sure if Jess was a reliable narrator and the author builds on this with the references to Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper.
A fantastic atmospheric thriller that I would highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
4.5 stars